Comparison of mechanical and standard hand instrumentation techniques in curved root canals

The original and postinstrumentation shapes of the mesial root canal system of 12 mandibular molars were compared after being instrumented with a mechanical handpiece and a hand instrumentation technique. Area of dentin removed and amount and direction of transportation were evaluated in relation to degree of root canal curvature. Pre- and postinstrumentation measurements were taken of the root canal system in the cervical, middle, and apical thirds. The mechanical handpiece removed dentin and transported the root canal more than the hand instrumentation in the cervical and apical thirds. Both techniques transported to the distal in the cervical third and to the mesial in the apical third. In the middle third, the mechanical handpiece transported more to the mesial and the hand instrumentation more to the distal. Degree of root canal curvature had no influence on the amount of dentin removed or transportation of the root canal.